DISCLAIMER: NOT MINE! Just borrowing. Set in and around series three (I tried my best to devise a timeline as I wrote this. Dialogue from the show is in italics), though I realise this is likely to add insult to injury to 'The Reckoning' and for that I am really sorry but this wouldn't go away. This tale has probably been told a thousand times before so thanks for stopping by, hope it is okay. Reviews are most welcome. Enjoy. x

There was a short silence as the pair exchanged awkward glances. What had happened between them shouldn't have, no matter how much either of them wanted it. It was all wrong, if it was to have happened neither of them had imagined it to be like this.

*A few hours earlier*

It was the dead of night when the red head awoke; rubbing the guilt from her eyes, she left the warm bed and silently searched the floor for her clothes. They had been previously discarded in the intense heat of desire.

Clumsily fastening her bra she turned to face the bed. Peter looked peaceful as he slept. She guessed he wasn't in a hurry to wake up as there was no way he could cope with this amount of guilt. They had committed a sin. A sin Assumpta Fitzgerald, deep down didn't feel sorry for.

As she tied her tangled hair back she contemplated leaving him a note on the notepad that was sat on the bedside table. But then again what would she say?

Once dressed, she slipped out of the bedroom and peered out of the kitchen window to check there were no passersby. Feeling slightly guilty that she was just going to leave without saying a word, she found a pen and scribbled on the back of a receipt: "Meet me at Fitzgerald's before opening."

That day the morning broke over Ballykissangel in the most beautiful way possible. Making her way back to the bar, Assumpta admired the warm pastel pinks and yellows blend into the most perfect sunrise- any other day she would have shrugged it off but today she looked at it that little bit longer. The longer she admired the view the less time she had to think about the consequences of her actions. Though, as always she blamed Peter for their forbidden night of unbridled passion.

She jumped out of her skin as she heard her husband sneak up behind her.

"You're up early, I didn't hear you come to bed last night, or get home either come to think of it. I hope you aren't hiding something."

"Leo," she began breathlessly. "You scared me. I was just going to take Fionn for his morning walk."

"Well don't be long, I have the day off and I thought we could spend some quality time together, something we haven't done since we got back to Ballyk."

"Oh, well I said I would chat to Niamh before opening about, you know, women's things."

"Assumpta, if you just want me out your way before your fancy man gets here you only have to say."

"What?"She replied, feeling her heart summersault all the way up into her mouth.

"I'm just teasing; I need to go to Dublin this week about a possible job, so I might as well go today."

"You don't have to."

"I will only be in the way here, that's all I am good for these days."

"That isn't true," she sighed watching the door shut firmly behind him.